ELD's Mox XIV Top 8 Lists and more

[ELD]

Thank you to everyone who made ELD's Mox XIV a success.  The turn out was hampered by a Legacy Event across the state, as well Memorial Day weekend plans, but the competition was tremendous regardless.  We had 5 rounds of swiss, and players fighting for a Top 8 all the way until the final bell.  In the end, it was a clear cut for all the X-2's or better, leaving some of the biggest names in New England Vintage to face each other for a Signed Time Walk.  The Top 8 bracket was:

 --------------------------------
  1 (  7) Oliver Beaumont W
  8 (  8) Rich Shay
 --------------------------------
  5 (  3) Corey Fraser
  4 ( 14) Andy Farias W
 --------------------------------
  3 (  2) Mike Daly
  6 ( 15) Nick Rodrigues W
 --------------------------------
  7 ( 16) Demonic Attorney
  2 (  9) Stefan Ellsworth W
 --------------------------------

Oliver Beaumont Painted Trinkets T4 Split
4   Force of Will   
4   Mana Drain   
3   Duress   
4   Brainstorm   
3   Thirst for Knowledge   
3   Trinket Mage   
3   Painter's Servant   
1   Darksteel Colossus   
2   Grindstone   
1   Tinker   
1   Demonic Tutor   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Mystical Tutor   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Time Walk   
2   Engineered Explosives   
1   Sensei's Divining Top   
1   Tolarian Academy   
5   Island   
4   Flooded Strand   
3   Underground Sea   
1   Polluted Delta   
1   Mox Emerald   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Mox Pearl   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Black Lotus   
1   Lotus Petal   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Mana Crypt   
      
2   Extirpate   
3   Spell Snare   
3   Energy Flux   
3   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Claws of Gix   
3   Sower of Temptation   

      Stefan Ellsworth MSPaint T4 Split
4   Force of Will   
4   Gush   
4   Brainstorm   
3   Merchant Scroll   
3   Mana Drain   
2   Pyroblast   
2   Red Elemental Blast   
1   Fastbond   
1   Tinker   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Gifts Ungiven   
1   Time Walk   
1   Timetwister   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Demonic Tutor   
3   Painter's Servant   
3   Grindstone   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Darksteel Colossus   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Black Lotus   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Mana Crypt   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Tolarian Academy   
3   Polluted Delta   
3   Flooded Strand   
2   Island   
3   Volcanic Island   
2   Underground Sea   
1   Tropical Island   
      
2   Empty the Warrens   
2   Pyroclasm   
2   Hurkyl's Recall   
4   Leyline of the Void   
2   Ingot Chewer   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Gaea's Blessing   
1   Skeletal Scrying   

      Andy Farias MSPaint Top 4 Split
4   Force of Will   
4   Gush   
4   Brainstorm   
3   Merchant Scroll   
3   Mana Drain   
2   Pyroblast   
2   Red Elemental Blast   
1   Fastbond   
1   Tinker   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Gifts Ungiven   
1   Time Walk   
1   Timetwister   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Demonic Tutor   
3   Painter's Servant   
3   Grindstone   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Darksteel Colossus   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Black Lotus   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Mana Crypt   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Tolarian Academy   
3   Polluted Delta   
3   Flooded Strand   
1   Island   
1   Snow-Covered Island   
3   Volcanic Island   
2   Underground Sea   
1   Tropical Island   
      
2   Empty the Warrens   
2   Pyroclasm   
2   Hurkyl's Recall   
4   Leyline of the Void   
2   Ingot Chewer   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Gaea's Blessing   
1   Skeletal Scrying   

      Nick Rodrigues Mage Servent T4 Split
3   Volcanic Island   
2   Underground Sea   
1   Tropical Island   
2   Island   
3   Flooded Strand   
3   Polluted Delta   
1   Tolarian Academy   
3   Painter's Servant   
2   Trinket Mage   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Black Lotus   
1   Mana Crypt   
1   Grindstone   
3   Merchant Scroll   
4   Brainstorm   
4   Gush   
2   Ponder   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Echoing Truth   
2   Misdirection   
3   Pyroblast   
2   Red Elemental Blast   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Time Walk   
1   Fastbond   
1   Demonic Tutor   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Sensei's Divining Top   
4   Force of Will   
1   Skeletal Scrying   
      
1   Empty the Warrens   
1   Tendrils of Agony   
1   Tinker   
1   Darksteel Colossus   
2   Ingot Chewer   
2   Ancient Grudge   
1   Engineered Explosives   
1   Gaea's Blessing   
4   Leyline of the Void   
1   Hurkyl's Recall   


      Mike Daly Flash 5th took 4x Signed Japanese Street Wraiths


Totally forgot the camera, but this cell phone pick shows Mike with his winnings- a proud member of Team Street Wraith
4   Flash   
4   Protean Hulk   
4   Virulent Sliver   
1   Heart Sliver   
4   Street Wraith   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Mox Emerald   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Mox Pearl   
1   Lotus Petal   
1   Black Lotus   
2   Underground Sea   
2   Tropical Island   
1   Island   
4   Polluted Delta   
2   Flooded Strand   
1   Elvish Spirit Guide   
4   Force of Will   
4   Pact of Negation   
3   Summoner's Pact   
1   Mystical Tutor   
1   Demonic Tutor   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
3   Merchant Scroll   
1   Chain of Vapor   
4   Brainstorm   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Time Walk   
      
4   Reverant Silence   
4   Leyline of the Void   
1   Chain of Vapor   
3   Echoing Truth   
3   Spell Snare   

      Corey Fraser MSPaint 6th
4   Force of Will   
3   Misdirection   
3   Pyroblast   
2   Red Elemental Blast   
4   Brainstorm   
3   Ponder   
4   Gush   
4   Merchant Scroll   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Fastbond   
3   Painter's Servant   
2   Grindstone   
1   Empty the Warrens   
1   Demonic Tutor   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Mystical Tutor   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Time Walk   
1   Echoing Truth   
3   Polluted Delta   
2   Flooded Strand   
3   Volcanic Island   
2   Underground Sea   
2   Island   
1   Tropical Island   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Mana Crypt   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Black Lotus   
      
3   Ingot Chewer   
2   Ancient Grudge   
1   Island   
1   Tropical Island   
4   Leyline of the Void   
4   Thoughtseize   


      Demonic Attorney MSPaint 7th took Black Bordered Japanese Mana Vault
4   Force of Will   
4   Gush   
4   Brainstorm   
4   Ponder   
3   Duress   
2   Painter's Servant   
2   Grindstone   
2   Merchant Scroll   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
1   Mana Drain   
2   Red Elemental Blast   
2   Pyroblast   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Darksteel Colossus   
1   Tinker   
1   Time Walk   
1   Demonic Tutor   
1   Fastbond   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
3   Polluted Delta   
3   Flooded Strand   
3   Underground Sea   
2   Tropical Island   
2   Volcanic Island   
1   Island   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Black Lotus   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Mana Crypt   
1   Tolarian Academy   
      
4   Leyline of the Void   
2   Quirion Dryad   
2   Empty the Warrens   
2   Extirpate   
2   Viashino Heretic   
1   Ancient Grudge   
1   Hurkyl's Recall   
1   Gaea's Blessing   

      Rich Shay MSPaint 8th Took 4x Japanese Saga Duress
3   Volcanic Island   
2   Underground Sea   
2   Tropical Island   
1   Island   
3   Polluted Delta   
3   Flooded Strand   
1   Tolarian Academy   
1   Darksteel Colossus   
3   Painter's Servant   
1   Time Walk   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Fastbond   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Demonic Tutor   
1   Tinker   
1   Ancestral Recall   
2   Red Elemental Blast   
2   Pyroblast   
2   Grindstone   
4   Force of Will   
2   Mana Drain   
1   Black Lotus   
4   Gush   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Mana Crypt   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Mox Sapphire   
4   Brainstorm   
2   Merchant Scroll   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
3   Ponder   
2   Misdirection   
      
1   Gaea's Blessing   
1   Hurkyl's Recall   
2   Extirpate   
4   Leyline of the Void   
1   Ancient Grudge   
2   Quirion Dryad   
2   Empty the Warrens   
2   Viashino Heretic   

The Top 4 took the buyback on the Time Walk plus choice of goodness like Foil Saviors Pithing Needle, Foil Tinker, and Foil Gifts Ungiven, Asian Tolarian Academy and tons of other choices.  Of course, the Top 8 received their Textless Proxy Tarmogoyfs to show where they finished. 

The vote at this event was for the next Top 8 proxy to be Library of Alexandria. 

I will be doing an additional door prize drawing for anyone who carpools to my future events.  The prize will vary, but will always be a Proxy or ELD Proxy.

Congratuations to Nick Rodrigues, winner of the pre-registration Foil ELD Mox Ruby.  Pre-registering makes the events run so much smoother.  Thank you again to everyone who pre-registerd. 

[Mr. Nightmare]

Holy shit!  That's 7 out of 8 Grindstone decks!

[ELD]

Actually, it's 7 out of 8, with the exception being Flash. 

[Mr. Nightmare]

Actually, it's 7 out of 8, with the exception being Flash. 

Hit the wrong key.  Point stands - that's ridiculous.

[Sextiger]

Actually 7 out of 8 and poor old Flash didn't have a chance in hell of beating any of those decks, must not have hit them in the Swiss.  So yes, Painter for top tier. 

[Shock Wave]

Actually 7 out of 8 and poor old Flash didn't have a chance in hell of beating any of those decks, must not have hit them in the Swiss.  So yes, Painter for top tier. 

.. or maybe Flash just won a lot of die rolls.

[M.Solymossy]

there were less than 20 people, with at LEAST 7 playing painter.  I think the number was 16?  Half were Painter.  It should put up some huge numbers.  I am still not impressed.

[pierce]

7 of 8 painter decks has to be a New England anomoly. Though it does seem like a savage and frightening metagame for people sho haven't figured out how to beat 1/3s on two.

ELD you run great events, and even those of us not in the general vicinity of the Northern Atlantic are truly impressed with the dedication and effort you seem to put into each tournament.

[frolll]

Thanks a lot for the quickness of these results, that's appreciated when you work for 2 site databases

Also, what a hell of a metagame was this ? Even Shay on MS Paint got me really really surprised. Didn't expect the deck to put such showings, it's totally out of control, or was it just specific to this tournament ? Anyways, good field nonetheless, when you see the names players. :p

Matt

[T00L]

Yeah the metagame was pretty much all painter so take the results with a grain of salt

[frolll]

Oh, thanks for the comment. I was becoming anxious about the health of the format with this top 8 chock full of Painters & Grindstone. Was looking like the DCI musn't restrict only Scroll, but Painter's Servant too. :p

Decklists are up there http://decklist.zmx.cc/. The site isn't yet finished, but what does work, like the total number of the 10 most played cards in any given tournament, is quite cool. And for this tournament, quite funky, too.

    *  32 Force of Will
    * 32 Brainstorm
    * 28 Leyline of the Void
    * 24 Gush
    * 23 Polluted Delta
    * 23 Flooded Strand
    * 20 Painter's Servant
    * 20 Merchant Scroll
    * 18 Underground Sea
    * 17 Volcanic Island
    * 16 Island
    * 15 Grindstone
    * 14 Pyroblast
    * 13 Mana Drain
    * 12 Ponder
    * 12 Red Elemental Blast

Anyway, a warped metagame is still a metagame, so the results, as distorted as they are, are results that are relevant; even if their relevance is just sayin' that Painters decks could be really popular and the NBT, or not. Man...never ever thought I would be seein' that much goddam Grindstones in my entire life !

[Mdizzle4life85]

Actually i ran into 3 painter decks in the swiss and went 2-1 against them. i dont know why everyone thinks flash's chance in that match is abysmal?! flash can beat any deck in the field and actually has a better shot than most of the decks playing against painter. lets not all hate on the flash deck! the only non painter deck to make top 8 has something to be said about flash. or maybe it was just all of my sooo many insane plays.  or my luck of the irish

[Xman]

Congrates on the tourney ELD, but man, I didn't want to play in Flash.Meta.  I am still sure I don't want to play in Painter.meta.

[Troy_Costisick]

Whoa...that's a lot better than I ever expected the Painter-stone combo to do.  I'd say it's a contender now.  I'm looking forward to the enxt time Menedian does an article about the current meta on SCG.  It oughta be interesting.

Peace,

-Troy